🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,023 in Irkutsk versus $1,108 in Windhoek.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,714 in Irkutsk versus $1,797 in Windhoek.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,405 in Irkutsk versus $2,485 in Windhoek.
🙂Living in Irkutsk costs roughly 8% less than in Windhoek, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Irkutsk24% lower, Windhoek17% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.30₽606
$10.55NAD 172
-21.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.10₽2,562
$38.77NAD 630
-9.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.60₽409
$5.35NAD 87.0
4.67%
Cappuccino
$3.06₽223
$1.94NAD 31.53
57.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49₽109
$0.96NAD 15.57
55.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₽30.99
$0.95NAD 15.37
-55.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.55₽113
$1.86NAD 30.25
-16.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58₽189
$2.28NAD 37.01
13.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39₽101
$1.45NAD 23.51
-4.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.58₽42.11
$0.86NAD 13.94
-32.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73₽126
$1.66NAD 27.04
4.22%
Eggs
$2.21₽161
$2.80NAD 45.47
-21.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.94₽1,091
$6.21NAD 101
140.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.36₽465
$5.33NAD 86.6
19.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60₽920
$6.79NAD 110
85.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23₽163
$1.86NAD 30.16
19.89%
Banana(1kg)
$2.50₽183
$1.90NAD 30.84
31.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.03₽221
$1.72NAD 27.87
76.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.70₽343
$1.77NAD 28.70
165.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08₽78.6
$2.04NAD 33.17
-47.06%
Onion(1kg)
$0.92₽67.0
$1.81NAD 29.47
-49.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.16₽158
$1.88NAD 30.54
14.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72₽52.3
$1.14NAD 18.59
-36.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.75₽274
$2.81NAD 45.70
33.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.65₽704
$7.21NAD 117
33.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19₽87.1
$1.34NAD 21.80
-11.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₽173
$1.85NAD 30.03
28.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49₽36.02
$0.70NAD 11.34
-30.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.99₽729
$40.64NAD 661
-75.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.85₽135
$0.68NAD 11.12
172.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33₽24.07
$0.73NAD 11.89
-54.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.68₽342
$11.51NAD 187
-59.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82₽60.1
$1.23NAD 19.93
-33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K₽2.2M
$21.2KNAD 344.2K
39.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K₽1.9M
$24.0KNAD 389.7K
6.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$95.9₽7,002
$116NAD 1,893
-17.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.83₽499
$17.47NAD 284
-60.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.34₽682
$51.0NAD 828
-81.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.98₽2,845
$37.28NAD 606
4.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.31₽1,045
$13.37NAD 217
7.03%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97₽363
$5.42NAD 88.1
-8.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$282₽20.6K
$218NAD 3,539
29.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,973₽509.0K
$5,110NAD 83.0K
36.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.85₽2,689
$51.7NAD 840
-28.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.60₽2,817
$26.89NAD 437
43.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102₽7,421
$89.3NAD 1,451
13.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105₽7,685
$83.2NAD 1,353
26.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$551₽40.2K
$490NAD 7,970
12.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331₽24.2K
$389NAD 6,326
-14.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,165₽85.0K
$1,257NAD 20.4K
-7.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$751₽54.8K
$950NAD 15.4K
-21.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,153₽230.1K
$1,660NAD 27.0K
89.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,938₽141.4K
$616NAD 10.0K
214.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$816₽59.5K
$1,037NAD 16.8K
-21.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
19.29
11.69
65.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Irkutsk: May 31, 2026
Last update for Windhoek: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $551 in Irkutsk and $490 in Windhoek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Windhoek pays 27% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Irkutsk vs $39.00 in Windhoek. Groceries flip the comparison at $264 vs $199, with Windhoek cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Irkutsk vs Windhoek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Irkutsk or Windhoek?
Irkutsk wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Windhoek. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Irkutsk the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Irkutsk or Windhoek?
On paper, Windhoek earns 27% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Irkutsk vs Windhoek?
Rent for a central apartment: $551 in Irkutsk versus $490 in Windhoek. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Irkutsk and Windhoek?
Childcare runs $282 in Irkutsk versus $218 in Windhoek. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Irkutsk or Windhoek?
Shoppers in Windhoek pay roughly 33% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Irkutsk or Windhoek?
At $1,023 in Irkutsk versus $1,108 in Windhoek, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Irkutsk but tight or insufficient in Windhoek. The gap between the two cities makes Irkutsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Irkutsk or Windhoek?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Irkutsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Windhoek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.